Welcome to the EquiRatings Archive, a treasure trove of timeless tales that celebrate the unique bond between horse and rider, the thrill of competition, and the beauty of this age-old tradition. Here, you'll find an extensive collection of stories from the world of equestrian sports, covering everything in show jumping and eventing.

Main

Will Coleman, Boyd Martin, Phillip Dutton, and Caroline Pamukcu - four of the USA&rsquo;s top riders contested this year&rsquo;s CHIO Aachen CCI4*-S.&nbsp;
All four also have previous form at Morven Park CCI4*-L which, in the context of this year&rsquo;s US Equestrian Open Final, is very interesting.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/3af96702-3e61-4506-958f-7485e233b15e.png?width=1130&amp;height=1196" alt="Previous Morven Park Cci4*-L Results of the Usa's 2025 Chio Aachen Riders">
Who of the four will target the $200,000 CCI4*-L Final at Morven Park this October? Who will they bring? Will they replicate their previous efforts in the class (if so, each would land well within the prize money)?
<h2 dir="ltr">Will Coleman &amp; Off The Record</h2>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/cec4cf5d-c58c-488e-a77f-9c37a308d7de.jpg?width=4256&amp;height=2832" alt="The bay horse Off The Record and rider Will Coleman during the prize ceremony of CHIO Aachen 2021. Will smiles broadly and pats Off The Record between the ears. A winner's rubbin hangs from the horse's bridle.">
Will Coleman &amp; Off The Record winning CHIO Aachen 2021 - the first and only US winners. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Will and his 2021 CHIO Aachen winner Off The Record were the highest placed US pair at Aachen this weekend, finishing fourth after adding just 0.8 cross-country time penalties to their dressage score. They were the second fastest round of the day (after New Zealand's Monica Spencer &amp; Artist who added 0.4 time penalties).
Off The Record first stepped up to the CCI4* level in April 2018. Since then, he has tackled 24 top-level cross-country courses (CCI4*/5*). He has jumped clear in all but one (CHIO Aachen 2023). On metrics, he is ranked in the top 1.0% of CCI4*-L cross-country jumpers and the top 1.3% on speed. A record like that is always a leaderboard threat when cross-country day rolls around, making sure we all remember it&rsquo;s not a dressage competition.
Not particularly known for producing super low dressage scores (unlike his stable mate Chin Tonic HS), Off The Record has nonetheless been competitive with his most recent CCI4* tests. These are his last five CCI4* dressage scores:
&nbsp;
<ol>
<li dir="ltr">Apr 2025 - Cosequin&reg; Lexington 4*-S (Qualifier 11): 21.8 (went on to win)</li>
<li dir="ltr">Sep 2024 - The Fork at Tryon 4*-S: 30.1 (went on to win)</li>
<li dir="ltr">Apr 2024 - Cosequin&reg; Lexington 4*-S:&nbsp;30.1 (finished 3rd)</li>
<li dir="ltr">Apr 2024 - Stable View 4*-S: 31.2 (finished 4th)</li>
<li dir="ltr">Jun 2023 - CHIO Aachen 4*-S: 28.1 (finished 38th)</li>
</ol>
Of all four previous runnings of the Morven Park CCI4*-L, winning scores have ranged from 29.4 to 34.5. In Off The Record's international career, he's produced 12 top-level finishing scores in that range (and lower). If we do see the US stalwart - and 2022 World team silver medalist -&nbsp; in October, Off The Record will challenge for the top spot. He usually does.
<h2 dir="ltr">Boyd Martin &amp; Commando 3</h2>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/23338cba-f6dd-4f51-ae1a-3ee18a422a9d.jpg?width=5464&amp;height=5504" alt="Boyd Martin smiling while riding Commando 3 in the arena after the prize ceremony at the Kentucky Horse Park in 2024. Commando 3 wears a red ribbon on his bridle and has a pleasant, ears-pricked expression.">
Boyd Martin &amp; Commando 3 placing 2nd at the 2024 Cosequin&reg; Lexington CCI4*-S. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Boyd and Commando 3 finished fifth in Aachen by adding just 3.2 cross-country time penalties to their dressage score. The result boosted Commando 3 to the number four horse for the US right now according to the EquiRatings Elo rating as he holds 721 Elo points.
Currently fifth in the US Equestrian Open standings, Boyd earned 50 of his 135 Series points by winning Stable View (Qualifier 8) with Commando 3. That Qualifier win was the latest of Commando 3&rsquo;s four career international wins, all at CCI4*:
&nbsp;
<ol>
<li dir="ltr">Apr 2025 - Stable View 4*-S (Qualifier 8)</li>
<li dir="ltr">Apr 2024 - Stable View 4*-S</li>
<li dir="ltr">Oct 2023 - Morven Park 4*-L</li>
<li dir="ltr">Sep 2023 - The Fork at Tryon 4*-S</li>
</ol>
We can&rsquo;t gloss over that Morven Park CCI4*-L win two years ago. It was Boyd on Commando 3 winning what this year will be the $200,000 US Equestrian Open Final. Can they replicate in 2025?
<h2 dir="ltr">Phillip Dutton with Possante &amp; Denim</h2>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/eff45000-f571-4933-845e-d57611d71c22.jpg?width=4256&amp;height=2832" alt="Black &amp; white image of Phillip Dutton walking toward the camera in his show jumping attire, carrying his show jacket over his forearm and wearing his helmet with the chin-strap undone. He bears a focused expression. ">
Phillip Dutton. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
With&nbsp;Possante, Phillip placed 11th at Aachen. It was Possante&rsquo;s third international appearance this season after finishing third at TerraNova CCI4*-S (Qualifier 6) and second at the Cosequin&reg; Lexington CCI4*-S (Qualifier 11). At the CCI4*-L level, however, Possante&rsquo;s show jumping has been a challenge; on both of his appearances at the level, he had two rails down on the final day (Boekelo 2024, Tryon 2024).
With Denim, Phillip finished 14th in Aachen. Though younger than Possante (12 YO),&nbsp;Denim (10 YO) has had better CCI4*-L results. Two of his three appearances at the level include an eighth place finish at Blenheim last year after a fifth at Tryon - both times adding just time penalties to his dressage score.&nbsp;
The Blenheim result - eighth out of 78 competitors - was especially impressive and contributed to Denim&rsquo;s rank as the number two 10-year-old in the US right now according to the EquiRatings Elo Rating. The only 10-YO ahead of him is Paris Olympian HSH Blake (Caroline Pamukcu).&nbsp;
Right now, Phillip is our Series leader on 215 points. <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/theres-still-a-big-chance" target="_blank" rel="noopener">If he is still atop the leaderboard come season-end</a>, he will earn $25,000 before the Final even rolls around. It&rsquo;s been four years since Phillip has contested the Morven Park CCI4*-L but maybe this year he's planning to carry his Series momentum into even more winnings.
<h2 dir="ltr">Caroline Pamukcu &amp; HSH Blake</h2>
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ee69af69-6c83-4f34-a7bb-0e04703d3444.jpg?width=5728&amp;height=5345" alt="The dark bay horse HSH Blake with Caroline Pamukcu exiting the Kentucky Horse Park dressage arena after their test. Caroline smiles and Blake has a pleasant, ears-pricked expression.">
Caroline Pamukcu &amp; HSH Blake. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Two rails down on Friday and 18.0 time penalties on Saturday saw Caroline and HSH Blake finishing 27th in Aachen. The pair did however produce the lowest first-phase score of the US combinations and they reclaimed their clear-jumping ways across the country after penalties at the Paris Olympics and 2025 Cosequin&reg; Lexington CCI4*-S.&nbsp;
When HSH Blake was selected for Paris, it wasn&rsquo;t a big surprise for those of us on the EquiRatings team. We&rsquo;d seen him climbing up our ratings and, as a young horse,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cxfc7yjIuPe/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">we had him pegged for LA 2028</a> but Paris 2024 was no stretch either. So, because it seems like he&rsquo;s been on our radar forever, it feels weird that Blake has &ldquo;only&rdquo; done eight top-level (CCI4*/5*) events in his career. Starting with TerraNova CCI4*-S in March 2023, he's done six CCI4*-S events including this weekend, the Olympics, and just one CCI4*-L at Tryon 2024.
That one CCI4*-L outing happened to be a 28.6 finish-on-dressage score to secure the win. According to the EquiRatings High Performance Rating (HPR) which quantifies the quality of any given result, it was the pair&rsquo;s best-ever performance (HPR of 98). So, will Blake go to Morven Park 2025? It&rsquo;s a data-set of one, but so far CCI4*-L looks good on him.
<h2>Series Standings as of July 8th, 2025 (After Qualifier 14):</h2>
See the full series standings, updated after each qualifier,&nbsp;<a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d157fc24-3f4a-4051-97fd-f08a6dbc9f19.png?width=675&amp;height=844" alt="Current Series Leaders after Qualifier 14 (Maryland Int.)">
<h2 dir="ltr">Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h2>
Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing">
<hr>
&nbsp;
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

Close-up of the bay horse Off The Record & rider Will Coleman galloping on a cross country course during competition. Both have a look of concentration.

From Germany to Virginia? The USA's CHIO Aachen riders all have previous form at Morven Park CCI4*-L.

Three of the four five-star 5* 160 Grand Prix weekends at the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival are done. Three different winners with three different stories; Richard Vogel &amp;&nbsp;Gangaster Montdesir Week 5, McLain Ward &amp; High Star Hero at Week 7, and now Darragh Kenny with Edddy Blue in Week 9. All of them pointed the same direction: March 28th for the $1,000,000 Rolex US Equestrian Open CSI5* Grand Prix.
Saturday night's $500,000 Bainbridge Companies CSI5* Grand Prix produced nine clear rounds from 39 starters - a demanding night's work over Alan Wade's course. The Irishman, appointed as course designer for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, built a track that found plenty of answers. Nine horses gave the right ones.
&nbsp;
<hr class="border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5">
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The Winner: Darragh Kenny &amp; Eddy Blue</h2>
Darragh Kenny had been second and third at WEF before but never first... until Saturday night. The Irish Olympian and Eddy Blue, a 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding (Eldorado vd Zeshoek TN x Chacco-Blue) owned by Carol A. Sollak, went penultimate in the jump-off and stopped the clock at 41.77 seconds. It proved unbeatable, securing their second 5* 1.60m victory after their win in the&nbsp;London World Cup in 2024.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ab521d94-e4dc-4265-9cb9-b1107d81f33d.png?width=1080&amp;height=1106" alt="Open Weekly Quotes (1)">
Kenny left a stride out in the first line and got away with it because of the carefulness of the horse underneath him. That combination of boldness and reliability is exactly what the Week 12 final will require. Kenny has his eyes on an Irish team spot at the FEI World Championships in Aachen in August but the road to Aachen runs through Wellington first.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6c7f2960-bfa4-4302-ad1f-438efc4d5987.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Open Weekly Quotes (2)">
&nbsp;
<hr class="border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5">
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The Jump-Off: A Shared Podium and a Statement from the USA</h2>
The jump-off opened with Marilyn Little and La Contessa setting a target of 41.92 seconds as the pathfinder. It was La Contessa's fifth consecutive clear at the level but the pair's first ever 5* Grand Prix podium together. That is a meaningful form line heading into Week 12.
Six riders later, Australian Thaisa Erwin matched Little's time exactly aboard Hialita B to share second in a dead heat - the first five-star WEF podium for an Australian since 2010. Alongside Kenny, both Little and Erwin confirmed in the press conference that their next target will be the Rolex US Equestrian Open CSI5* Grand Prix.
Laura Kraut and Bisquetta were fourth, Jonathan McCrea fifth; both double-clear. Six of the world's top ten were in the field. The depth was real.
&nbsp;
<hr class="border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5">
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The US Picture: Depth Is the Differentiator</h2>
Three five-star weekends in and the US case for keeping the Open title on home soil has been built less around one dominant combination and more around sheer depth.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/ward-wins-in-wellington-again" target="_blank" rel="noopener">McLain Ward won Week 7.</a> Lillie Keenan has won with two different horses this circuit.&nbsp;Marilyn Little is now on a serious clear streak at five-star 160 with&nbsp;La Contessa. Laura Kraut and Jonathan McCrea jumped double-clear on Saturday. And then there is Kent Farrington, world number two, who hasn't featured so much in the weekly results but whose name on&nbsp; the start list at Week 12 will reshape the field and predictions.
Farrington had four faults in Round 1 at Week 9 with Greya, finishing 11th. It changes nothing about what they are capable of in a jump-off. Their five-star 160 jump-off record remains extraordinary: nine wins and 11 podium finishes from 15 appearances. Greya's EquiRatings Elo is closing in on the all-time US record set by HH Azur. When they canter into the ring on March 28, they walk in with serious expectations
&nbsp;
<hr class="border-border-200 border-t-0.5 my-3 mx-1.5">
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">&nbsp;</h2>
<h2 class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal leading-[1.7]">The International Challenge Is Real</h2>
The international field is not making up the numbers. Kenny's win on Saturday was the second 5* Grand Prix at WEF won by a non-US rider this season. Vogel took Week 5. Ward interrupted at Week 7. Kenny resumed the sequence at Week 9.
Vogel will arrive at Week 12 with<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/countdown-to-the-final-five-lessons-from-the-first-five-star-weekend-in-wellington" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Gangster Montdesir </a>carrying a 100% clear rate from five five-star starts. <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/only-80-seconds-stand-between-shane-sweetnam-and-a-podium-finish" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Cruz</a> have converted 18 podium finishes from 21 jump-off appearances at this level - a stat that still reads like a typo the more you look at it. And France's&nbsp;Nina Mallevaey arrives carrying a 12-consecutive-clear-round streak with Dynastie de Beaufour - one clear away from equalling Nick Skelton and Big Star's achievement of 13.
Dynastie de Beaufour is currently rated 779 on the EquiRatings Elo - sixth in the world, the top-ranked French horse in the database currently. Mallevaey is seventh on the Longines FEI World Rankings and the highest-ranked female rider.. Week 12 will be their third appearance at WEF. The first two produced a third place and a fifth. They will be ones to watch.
Two and a half weeks remain. The field is taking shape.
<a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/the-open-weekly-pamukcu-kenny-darnell" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/797de4a4-a9fd-4ef8-8f83-7253791613fc.png?width=4048&amp;height=577" alt="Us Open Blog Inserts"></a>
Listen to Annie and Diarm review WEF Week 9 on this week's episode of the US Equestrian Open Podcast
<iframe style="border: none;" title="Embed Player" src="https://play.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/40391430/height/192/theme/modern/size/large/thumbnail/yes/custom-color/28427a/time-start/00:00:00/hide-playlist/yes/download/yes/font-color/ffffff" width="100%" height="192" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>

Week 9 Wraps the Five-Star Build-Up to the Rolex US Equestrian Open

In a recent episode of the US Equestrian Open of Eventing Podcast, Annie Bishop sat down with eventing star Sharon White and EquiRatings' Diarmuid Byrne to discuss one of the most exciting horses in the sport today &mdash; Jaguars Duende.&nbsp; The US Equestrian Open Podcast is available <a href="https://podfollow.com/the-us-equestrian-open-podcast" target="_blank" rel="noopener">on all podcast channels here</a> and you can check out Sharon's <a href="https://pod.fo/e/2ac78a" target="_blank" rel="noopener">episode here.&nbsp;</a>
<h2 class="p-rich_text_section">A Mare with Confidence and Character</h2>
Sharon White describes Jaguars Duende as fiercely independent and confident, traits she believes are essential for success.
<blockquote>
"She shows up to work every day. She likes her job, she likes doing things well, and she goes along with my motto: If you're going to do something, do it well. That&rsquo;s what makes her so special &mdash; she finds enjoyment in working hard." 
</blockquote>
Her determination is evident not only in competition but also in training. Sharon enjoys that Jaguars Duende isn&rsquo;t afraid to express herself, even if it means bucking her off every now and then!
<blockquote>
"I like that she has enough confidence to try and tell me to go fly a kite sometimes."
"If you&rsquo;re gonna do something, do it well, otherwise don&rsquo;t bother to do it. Which includes bucking me off, by the way! That&rsquo;s one of her favorite things too &mdash; which I love, right? Because I like that she has enough confidence to try and tell me to go fly a kite sometimes."
</blockquote>
<h2><video controls="controls" width="600" height="300"><source src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/c66e89fb-6000-4eed-9ed9-9ef123b671cb" type="video/mp4"></video></h2>
<h2>A Remarkable Journey from an Unlikely Start</h2>
<blockquote>
"When I first saw the videos, I was like, 'I wouldn&rsquo;t buy that.'"
</blockquote>
Jaguars Duende&rsquo;s journey began when Sharon purchased her as a three-year-old, sight unseen. However, she admits her first impressions weren&rsquo;t exactly glowing.
"When I first saw the videos, I was like, 'I wouldn&rsquo;t buy that. Just being honest.' And then when she came over, I thought, 'I don&rsquo;t know. I don&rsquo;t know what&rsquo;s going to happen.'"
Despite initial doubts, White recognized that Jaguars Duende needed time and patience. She focused on helping her develop confidence and strength rather than rushing her progress. That patience has certainly paid off, as she has developed into one of the most exciting horses in US eventing today.
<blockquote>
"I&rsquo;ve always thought big picture with her. It&rsquo;s not about the immediacy of what you&rsquo;re going to do this weekend. It&rsquo;s: what am I going to do three years from now? That&rsquo;s what really interests me."
</blockquote>
<h2>A Stellar Competition Record</h2>
Jaguars Duende has quickly become one of the sport&rsquo;s most talked-about rising stars. Diarmuid shared the impressive statistics:
<ul class="p-rich_text_list p-rich_text_list__bullet p-rich_text_list--nested" data-stringify-type="unordered-list" data-list-tree="true" data-indent="0" data-border="0">
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">11 international starts, nine podium finishes (the other two starts were withdrawals before cross-country)</li>
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">Three wins in her last four competitions</li>
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">A victory in the Maryland 5 Star CCI3*-L to close out the 2024 season</li>
</ul>
These numbers are staggering, but White admits she rarely focuses on them.
<blockquote>
"It's hard to read the label when you're inside the box. You don't even realize what's happening until you step back and look at that pile of blue ribbons. I was cleaning out the barn and found this pile of ribbons, and I thought, 'Holy moly, they're all Jags!'"
</blockquote>
<h2 class="p-rich_text_section"><video controls="controls" width="600" height="300"><source src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/40daeed9-fdb5-437d-be20-7123a08e2d76" type="video/mp4"></video> The Road Ahead: US Equestrian Open and Beyond</h2>
<blockquote>
"With horses, you never really know. You make a plan, but they tell you what&rsquo;s next."
</blockquote>
Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Jaguars Duende is set to make her first appearance at <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/about-the-us-equestrian-open-series" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bouckaert</a>. While the US Equestrian Open remains a possibility, White emphasizes the journey will be dictated by what Jags tells her.
"The US Equestrian Open is exciting because it brings so much fun into the sport. There&rsquo;s so much talk about it, so much anticipation. You look at the calendar and think, &lsquo;Could this be an option?&rsquo; But with horses, you never really know. You make a plan, but they tell you what&rsquo;s next."
White&rsquo;s philosophy remains centered on patience and trusting the process. Every step of Jaguars Duende's career has been carefully planned to ensure she moves up when she&rsquo;s ready. With continued growth and strong performances, her future looks incredibly bright.
&nbsp;
<h2>"My Little Pegasus"</h2>
Jaguars Duende is more than just a top competitor; she&rsquo;s a horse with presence, personality, and a devoted team behind her. Sharon White&rsquo;s dedication to her long-term success is evident, and as she steps into 2025, fans will be eagerly following along to see just how far she can go.
<blockquote>
"She doesn&rsquo;t mind digging deep when she has to, and I love that. That&rsquo;s something you need in a great horse. When she started to give me that feeling, I would call her my little Pegasus, because suddenly, she had wings."
</blockquote>
With a stellar track record and a team committed to her development, Jaguars Duende is a name to remember. As the season unfolds, we&rsquo;ll all be watching to see where her journey takes her.
<h2 dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s Next in the Open?</h2>
Having kicked off in 2024, the US Equestrian Open qualifiers will pick back up in March when the leaderboard battle continues at Bouckaert.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/145ad0e6-6356-4cd4-98f7-394e78b6afdb?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="Table of the Event Calendar for the 2024-2025 U.S. Equestrian Open of Eventing Series">
For the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/dressage-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide">most up-to-date series calendar</a> and <a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open">latest standings</a>, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/">usequestrianopen.org</a>.
<h3>Series Standings at the End of 2024:</h3>
See the full series standings, updated after each qualifier,&nbsp;<a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/d85de2e9-4a7d-4cdc-9eb6-538d9de32553?width=1080&amp;height=1682" alt="Table Showing the Top 10 Athletes on the Us Open of Eventing Leaderboard as of the End of 2024">
<h2 dir="ltr">Stay Connected</h2>
Stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen"> Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen"> Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian"> Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian">TikTok</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/usequestrian">X (Twitter)</a>. Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.
&nbsp;
<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at <a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;

Photo of Sharon White during an awards ceremony. She is seen from the torso up behind her horse's ears, who she sits on while smiling very broadly, still in her show jumping kit.

Jaguars Duende: Sharon White on Her Rising Star of US Eventing

For the second time this season, the US Equestrian Open of Dressage unfolds on both coasts, with qualifiers at Pacific Coast Dressage in Temecula, California, and TerraNova Equestrian Center in Myakka City, Florida. Only six qualifiers remain before the Finals in November, and leaderboard points are at a premium.
This weekend could bring a pivotal shift in the Series standings. Two-time winner Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn is chasing a historic third victory. Ben Ebeling looks to solidify his Finals contention. Kristina Harrison-Antell and Devon Kane are poised to break into the top ranks. Eline Eckroth&rsquo;s strategy could vault her into third overall. And G&uuml;nter Seidel aims to secure his Finals ticket with a promising new mount.
As the leaderboard&rsquo;s Top 18 cutoff tightens, every percentage point matters.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-Fo3Dv" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Current US Equestrian Open standings - 30th April 2025" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Fo3Dv/2/" height="554" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">Vaughn Chases a Record Third Win</h2>
Two victories earlier this year propelled Ge&ntilde;ay Vaughn into a three-way tie for the series lead this spring. She currently sits 19th after missing recent qualifiers, but another strong finish would push her safely into Finals qualification. Since returning from the FEI World Cup Final in Basel &mdash; where Vaughn and Gino earned a respectable 73.765% in their World Cup Finals debut &mdash; she now makes her first US Equestrian Open appearance since February. All eyes will be on the pair&rsquo;s return this weekend.
Because of the small field size, simply completing her freestyle will be enough to move Vaughn into the Top 18 &mdash; displacing another rider from Finals contention. A win at Galway Downs this weekend would also make her the first three-time qualifier winner this season. Gino&rsquo;s current freestyle average stands at 73.051%, with a personal best of 75.150%.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-py3IH" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: Pacific Coast CDI" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/py3IH/1/" height="666" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">Ebeling Targets Another Win</h2>
Ben Ebeling and Bellena made a statement at their only US Equestrian Open outing this season, taking the win with a 75.740%. Though Ebeling sits outside the Top 18 due to limited starts, another high-scoring win at TerraNova would put him within striking distance. One more qualifier after this would make him a serious Finals threat. It&rsquo;s not just about qualifying, either. With scoring power already demonstrated, Ebeling could pose a legitimate challenge to current series leader Anna Marek when the Finals roll around.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-zzV5v" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Grand Prix Freestyle Stats: TerraNova Dressage 3" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/zzV5v/1/" height="597" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Table" data-external="1"></iframe>
<h2 dir="ltr">Leaderboard Movement Mayhem</h2>
On the East Coast, Charlotte Jorst, Devon Kane, and Eline Eckroth are all poised to make leaderboard moves at TerraNova.
Jorst and Zhaplin Langholt return to the entry list this weekend. She has competed in three qualifiers this season, winning at Gold Coast and finishing fourth in the same event where Ebeling claimed victory. Because of the smaller field sizes this week, simply completing her freestyle will earn Jorst enough points to move into the Top 18 &mdash; pushing out one of the current riders.
Devon Kane and Vamos are projected to finish third at TerraNova based on their average of 73.193%. A result in that range would push Kane solidly into the Top 10, a significant jump after spending much of the season hovering around the leaderboard bubble.
Eline Eckroth, who has quietly climbed the standings through tactical scheduling, stands to benefit once again. Though her freestyle averages remain modest at 69.680%, simply completing her ride &mdash; even in last place &mdash; will earn enough points to surpass Karen Lipp and take over third place in the overall standings.
While the East Coast riders aim to solidify or improve their positions, the West Coast lineup is poised for even bigger leaderboard shifts.
Kristina Harrison-Antell, who won the last West Coast qualifier, also returns this weekend. If she finishes third or better, she will move into second overall in the Series standings, ending the long hold Germany&rsquo;s Evelyn Eger has had on the runner-up position since Week 8.
G&uuml;nter Seidel brings a new mount, Jack, to the freestyle arena. While Jack has limited experience at this level, his recent Grand Prix Special results suggest he&rsquo;s ready for the challenge. Seidel is projected to finish fourth this weekend, which would earn him 15 points &mdash; enough to secure a place inside the Top 10 and comfortably above the Top 18 cut line.
Tune in to the USEF Network this weekend for coast-to-coast action as the US Equestrian Open of Dressage continues its thrilling march toward the Finals. <a href="https://www.usef.org/membership/join-renew" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sign up for free</a>!
<h2 dir="ltr">Stay Connected</h2>
For the <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/dressage-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide">most up-to-date series calendar</a> and <a href="https://equestrian-hub-usef.pages.dev/us-equestrian-open">latest standings</a>, visit the official US Equestrian Open Series hub at <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/">usequestrianopen.org</a>.
Stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen"> Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen"> Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian"> Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian">TikTok</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/usequestrian">X (Twitter)</a>. Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.

black dressage horse going into an arena 

Leaderboard Drama Looms at Qualifier 17

Kent Farrington has done what only Kent Farrington has ever done before. With victory in the $340,000 CSI5* Grand Prix of Greenwich aboard Toulayna, the world no. 1 secured his eighth five-star Grand Prix/World Cup triumph of 2025, matching the unprecedented tally he first set in 2017.
<h2>History Repeats Itself, With a Twist</h2>
In the modern era of show jumping, consistency at the very top is one of the sport&rsquo;s hardest currencies. Since 2010, no rider other than Farrington has managed to amass eight five-star Grand Prix or World Cup wins in a single calendar year. Martin Fuchs (2019) and McLain Ward (2010) came close, but only Farrington has scaled the summit. Twice.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/ea454955-bc3b-41c8-b0b3-aed61501a437.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Usef Jumping Graphics 2025 (21)">
This latest victory in Greenwich, achieved by just three-hundredths of a second over Daniel Bluman and Corbie V.V., was the perfect snapshot of what makes Farrington unstoppable: speed, precision, and the nerve to execute under pressure.
&nbsp;
<h2>Greya Joins the Legends</h2>
It isn&rsquo;t just Farrington rewriting history this year, his superstar mare Greya is doing the same. With her latest Grand Prix win in Williamsburg, the 11-year-old Oldenburg (Colestus x Contender) captured her sixth five-star victory of 2025, matching the legendary record set by Gazelle in 2017. Remarkably, both mares have been guided to these milestone seasons by Farrington, cementing his reputation as one of the greatest championship managers of horses in modern show jumping. With history still unfolding, Greya&rsquo;s campaign could yet surpass Gazelle&rsquo;s benchmark and stand alone at the very top.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/204b935d-44bc-4581-ad1c-99937e60f2a6.png?width=1200&amp;height=600" alt="1">
<h2>Rivalries and Records</h2>
Farrington and Bluman have been locked in a season-long battle across Major League Show Jumping and beyond, trading blows in Toronto, Traverse City, and now Greenwich. While Bluman once again pushed him to the limit, Farrington&rsquo;s composure in the jump-off brought his season tally to an extraordinary eight wins.
Behind the stats lies a remarkable storyline: Farrington&rsquo;s triumphs have come aboard multiple horses, led by Greya, with whom he has taken 6 of those wins and Toulayna, the 11-year-old Zangersheide mare co-owned with Rabbit Root Stables. The mares&rsquo; blend of scope and speed has been the cornerstone of Farrington&rsquo;s dominance in 2025.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/2f5016af-b017-4a7f-92b4-8eb6707474d8.png?width=1200&amp;height=600" alt="2">
<h2>The Making of a Modern Legend</h2>
What sets Farrington apart isn&rsquo;t just his ability to win, it&rsquo;s his ability to do it again, and again, across different arenas, continents, and lineups of the world&rsquo;s best. From Wellington to Traverse City, from Toronto to Greenwich, 2025 has been a masterclass in sustained brilliance.
Eight five-star Grand Prix victories in one year is a number most riders can scarcely imagine. For Kent Farrington, it is not just a record, it is a signature.

Eight and Great: Kent Farrington Rewrites the Record Books

TerraNova Showdown: Coleman Arrives, Pamukcu Pushes, and Dutton Sets The Bar

In only her second Grand Prix Freestyle as a senior, accomplished 21-year-old Erin Nichols earned her first international freestyle victory at TerraNova, scoring 72.140% aboard her 16-year-old KWPN gelding, Elian Royale. While this marks a new milestone at the senior level, Nichols is no stranger to the spotlight&mdash;she&rsquo;s a former triple gold medalist at the North American Youth Championships and a winner of multiple international U25 classes, including freestyle victories on both sides of the Atlantic.
Nichols placed second in Friday&rsquo;s Grand Prix with a 68.848%, just behind USA&rsquo;s Benjamin Ebeling and Bellena (69.109%). While Ebeling opted to ride in the Grand Prix Special, it was Nichols and Eline Eckroth contesting the Freestyle the next day.
While not an overall personal best, the 72.140% is right in line with Nichols&rsquo; average across her freestyle performances&mdash;most of which came during her successful run in the Under 25 ranks. That makes this weekend&rsquo;s test a senior-level personal best, and an important benchmark as she builds her r&eacute;sum&eacute; at the top level. Although the field was small, the win is a clear milestone for Nichols, who has her sights set on future U.S. team appearances and dreams of representing her country at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
<h2>Eckroth Climbs the Leaderboard</h2>
Eckroth&rsquo;s second-place finish&mdash;earned in a modestly contested class&mdash;was enough to propel her from 11th to 4th in the US Equestrian Open of Dressage standings. She edges out early-season favorite Felicitas Hendricks, who is likely returning to Germany now that the Wellington circuit has wrapped. Like Karen Lipp, currently ranked third overall, Eckroth is gaining ground through consistent 2nd- and 3rd-place finishes at smaller shows. It&rsquo;s a reminder that Series points don&rsquo;t always come from big wins&mdash;smart scheduling can pay off, especially with cash prizes going to the top 18 riders at the end of the qualifiers. The biggest payday, however, will come at the Finals, where those top 18 will face off in Thermal, California, this November.
<h2>Ocala Could Shake Things Up</h2>
The TerraNova weekend may have featured a small field, but it gave Nichols another career milestone to add to her already impressive resume. It also shuffled the standings in favor of Eckroth, who will compete again next weekend against third-place rider Karen Lipp at the World Equestrian Center&rsquo;s CDI4* Freestyle. With the two riders only four points apart, Ocala&rsquo;s outing could significantly reshape the leaderboard&mdash;potentially even knocking Germany&rsquo;s Evelyn Eger out of second place.
Stay connected with the latest news and standings on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen">Facebook</a> and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen"> Instagram</a>, and follow US Equestrian on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian">TikTok</a>, and <a href="https://x.com/usequestrian">X (Twitter)</a>. Use #USEquestrianOpen to join the conversation.

Horse and rider trot away from the camera in an upper level dressage test.

Nichols Claims First Senior Freestyle Victory at TerraNova

Last weekend at The Fork,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOoEwwLDYCw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boyd Martin soared to the top of the Open leaderboard</a> after securing a 120-point haul. Phillip Dutton, on 215 points, is now sitting pretty in second place. But, while Boyd is fairly out of reach this late in the Series, Phillip&nbsp;can be caught and if he is, <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/eventing-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">it will cost him $5,000</a>.
&nbsp;
<hr>
Prize money come Series end:
<ul>
<li style="font-style: italic;">1st - $25,000</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-style: italic;">2nd - $15,000</li>
<li dir="ltr" style="font-style: italic;">3rd - $10,000</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
<hr>
One rider with a good shot at catching Phillip is&nbsp;James Alliston.&nbsp;
James is competing in this weekend's Qualifier 18 - Twin Rivers - and&nbsp;he&rsquo;s won the last five editions of the event.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/9b4f52ba-a85f-4a2a-84c1-76355322fce3.png?width=1190&amp;height=1670" alt="Last 10 Winners of Twin Rivers Cci4 S">&nbsp;
This time, James brings forward a CCI4* first-timer,&nbsp;HMR Rolan. But looking at Rolan&rsquo;s results, so far he has handled everything in stride. James has taken Rolan around four internationals and, across all four, Rolan has added just 4 penalties to his dressage score, just a single rail. That&rsquo;s it.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/5b88af88-2748-4fa6-9b81-40791d070065.png?width=1400&amp;height=736" alt="Cm Ob F Hmr Rolan S International Appearances (1)">
On their latest outing last month - a national event - James and Rolan were crowned USEA Open Intermediate Champions and before that, they finished second in the Rebecca Farm CCI3*-L.
Now, facing Rolan's first CCI4*, the pair compete against five other combinations and according to EquiRatings Predictive Analytics,<a href="https://usequestrianopen.info/twinriverssep2025/predictions--records" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> they have a 35% chance of winning</a>.
That&rsquo;s important because a win here would take James from 145 Series points to 185 points and equal third in the Series.
Then, after Twin Rivers, there is one last qualifier on the West Coast - Qualifier 20: Woodside. The Woodside Fall International is an event James has started 24 times before, including two entries in the CCI2*-S last year. He hasn&rsquo;t contested the CCI4*-S there since 2020 but he may be incentivized to enter this year - given the horse power - if it gives him a chance to secure more Open winnings.&nbsp;
<h1>The Scenario</h1>
Say James wins Twin Rivers this weekend to sit on 185 points coming into Woodside. To then catch Phillip on 215, James would need to place third or higher at Woodside (30+ Series points) to meet or exceed Phillip. Now, from 2020 onward, the number of Woodside 4*-S starters has ranged from 2 (2024) to 15 (2020), so placing third this year may be more or less straightforward depending on the number of this year&rsquo;s entries.&nbsp;&nbsp;
<h1>Other Challengers</h1>
Another qualifier going on this weekend is the East Coast&rsquo;s Plantation Field. Of that field, Caroline Pamukcu and Jennie Brannigan are the two that could join James in a race for the Open podium.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/2e11d825-95cc-4c7c-8ac9-a0d18a33031a.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="West Side Story leaderboard notations"> 
All to say, the Series ain't over. The checks aren&rsquo;t written. Stay tuned.
&nbsp;
<hr>
<h1>Follow the US Equestrian Open of Eventing</h1>
The Final in a snapshot. For full Series details, <a href="https://www.usequestrianopen.org/stories/eventing-us-equestrian-open-quick-guide" target="_blank" rel="noopener">head to our quick guide</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/6e95e199-0e64-4508-aaa5-7039e5d08293.png?width=2160&amp;height=2700" alt="Final Snapshot for Open Eventing Blogs">
<h3>Current Series Standings (Sep 18, 2025):</h3>
See the full, updated series standings and how the leaders got to the top, <a href="https://usef.equestrian-hub.com/public/championship/eventing/1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/dfc13b24-b6dc-4dab-ac88-91d5d46150e5.png?width=721&amp;height=557" alt="Eventing Leaderboard as of 18 Sep 2025">
Check out the full Series calendar below and stay connected with the latest news and standings on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>&nbsp;and<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrianopen" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Instagram.&nbsp;</a>Use #USEqOpen to join the conversation.
Also follow US Equestrian on<a href="https://www.facebook.com/USequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&nbsp;Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/usequestrian/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Instagram</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/usequestrian" target="_blank" rel="noopener">X (Twitter)</a>.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/aee0755f-7ba0-4aaf-b197-8570742781c8.png?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2024-2025 US Equestrian Open of Eventing">
&nbsp;
<hr>
For Sport Department questions, please contact Christy Hawkins at <a href="mailto:USEquestrianOpen@usef.org">USEquestrianOpen@usef.org</a>.
For media inquiries about the US Equestrian Open Series, please contact Carly Weilminster at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cweilminster@usef.org">cweilminster@usef.org</a>.&nbsp;
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Layson Griffin at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:lgriffin@usef.org">lgriffin@usef.org</a>.

Image of James Alliston jumping the dark bay horse Karma over a cross country fence during competition.

West Side Story

With just 0.04 percentage points separating them, Week 10&rsquo;s qualifier was a tight battle for first place. Ultimately, Julio Mendoza Loor took the win aboard his Paris Games mount, Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike, despite a music error that forced them to restart their test. New to the US Equestrian Open of Dressage qualifiers&mdash;but not new to the sport&mdash;Mendoza Loor rode to an upbeat, bold soundtrack, earning a score of 75.860%. Finishing second was Anna Marek aboard Fayvel, a 14-year-old gelding. This finish puts Marek and the US flag back atop the leaderboard.&nbsp;
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/e9eaf549-50ba-4fec-995a-c082ff590f4c.png?width=491&amp;height=496" alt="Top 5 riders in the US Open of Dressage as of Feb 9, 2025. (1) Anna Marek (2) Evelyn Eger (2) Karen Lipp (4) Denielle Gallagher (5) Felicitas Hendricks">
Mendoza Loor&rsquo;s high-energy freestyle music particularly suited &ldquo;Goldie&rsquo;s&rdquo; trot work. The 13-year-old KWPN gelding scored exceptionally well in the piaffe and passage, earning 8.0s from most judges. A stumble during one of the flying changes cost them a few marks, likely making the final score even closer than it would have been otherwise. This marked their return to competition after placing 27th individually at the Paris Olympic Games in 2024.
&ldquo;There were a lot of highlights tonight in the test,&rdquo; Mendoza Loor said. &ldquo;After the line of the one-tempis, he was really there in what I was asking him to do. His performance was amazing."
Marek, fresh off a second-place finish in Wellington last weekend on Fire Fly, delivered a strong test to a freestyle featuring the punchy, rhythmic &lsquo;BOOM&rsquo; by X Ambassadors and the playful, offbeat &lsquo;Coincidance&rsquo; by Handsome Driver. Her ride was remarkably consistent, with no movement receiving lower than a 7.0 from any judge.
The 0.04 percentage point margin between first and second place is the smallest in Series history, breaking the previous record of 0.210 percentage points, which was also set by Marek&mdash;though that time aboard Fire Fly&mdash;when she narrowly edged out Kevin Kohmann and D&uuml;nensee at Global Dressage Festival 3.
<iframe id="datawrapper-chart-LMZSy" style="width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;" title="Winning MarginsUS Equestrian Open Dressage Qualifiers" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/LMZSy/1/" height="539" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" aria-label="Range Plot" data-external="1"></iframe>
This second-place finish earned Marek 17 points in the Series standings, cementing her position at the top of the leaderboard. With the Final in Thermal, CA, this November, her focus is now on maintaining that lead as the qualifiers near their halfway point.
<h2 dir="ltr">What&rsquo;s Next&nbsp;</h2>
The back-to-back qualifiers return to Wellington this weekend for Adequan Global Dressage Festival 10&rsquo;s CDI5*&mdash;a highly anticipated competition in Florida&rsquo;s winter circuit. The entry list is stacked, with top combinations poised to shake up the standings: Adrienne Lyle on Helix, Anna Marek on Fayvel, Evelyn Eger on Tabledance 3, Felicitas Hendricks on Drombusch OLD, Kevin Kohmann on D&uuml;nensee, Tinne Vilhelmson&nbsp;Silfv&eacute;n&nbsp;on Devanto, and Julio Mendoza Loor on Jewel&rsquo;s Goldstrike.&nbsp;
With Marek, Eger, and Hendricks separated by fewer than 20 points, the battle for the top spot is far from over.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/b0ba4a7e-31a4-4a11-a147-7faa41ac9f1d.jpg?width=1080&amp;height=1350" alt="Competition Calendar for the 2025 US Open of Dressage">

A bay horse in a double bridle walks out of the arena after a dressage test. 

Down to the Decimal: Mendoza Loor Wins Closest Finish in Series History

As the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) gears up for its third five-star Grand Prix of the season, anticipation is at an all-time high. Saturday night&rsquo;s $500,000 CSI5* Bainbridge Companies Grand Prix will see some of the world&rsquo;s best combinations battle it out under the lights in the International Arena. With just one more CSI5* Grand Prix left before the $750,000 Rolex US Equestrian Open Final during WEF 12, this is a crucial moment for riders to make their mark.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/611386ef-bae7-4dee-913f-2a2f1bc45a39.png?width=1484&amp;height=1862" alt="Uyi Hw Top 10 Elo Rated Horses for the Wef 9 500 000 Csi5 Bainbridge Companies Grand Prix (1)">
<h1>Reigning Champions in the Field</h1>
Two of the biggest names in the sport will enter the ring as the highest-rated horses in the competition: Henrik von Eckermann &amp; King Edward and Christian Kukuk &amp; Checker 47. These two reigning champions&mdash;King Edward as the current World Champion and Checker 47 as the reigning Olympic Champion&mdash;have already proven themselves at WEF this season.
King Edward, the highest-rated horse on record with an Elo rating of 810, finished fifth in the WEF 5 CSI5* Grand Prix after delivering a solid double clear. Meanwhile, Checker 47 has been nothing short of dominant, claiming a CSI4* Grand Prix victory during WEF 3, finishing as the runner-up in WEF 7&rsquo;s five-star Grand Prix, and are of course the defending champions of the WEF 12 Grand Prix.
Both horses arrive in top form and will be the combinations to beat when the competition heats up under the Saturday night lights.
<h1>The Hometown Heroes</h1>
<h3>McLain Ward &amp; Ilex &ndash; The USA&rsquo;s Best Shot?</h3>
If the American crowd is looking for a home victory, their hopes may rest on McLain Ward &amp; Ilex. This combination played a key role in securing Team USA&rsquo;s Olympic silver medal in Paris last summer, and Ilex will be making his five-star Grand Prix season debut here at WEF 9.
Ward&rsquo;s track record at the Winter Equestrian Festival speaks for itself. Since 2010, he has amassed an impressive 60 international wins at this venue. He is also one of just two riders in history to win multiple five-star Grands Prix in the same WEF season&mdash;a feat that only one other rider has ever achieved.
<h3>Kent Farrington &amp; Myla &ndash; Making History?</h3>
That rider? Kent Farrington&mdash;who has already won both five-star Grands Prix of the WEF 2025 season aboard Greya. No rider has ever managed to win more than two five-star Grand Prix classes in a single WEF season, but with Myla in strong form, Farrington could be on the verge of rewriting history.
Though Myla sits just outside the Top 10 Elo-rated horses in the field (Elo: 720), she is ranked among the Top 5 highest-rated 10-year-old horses in the world. Farrington&rsquo;s record speaks for itself, and if anyone can pull off the impossible, it&rsquo;s him.
<h3>Lillie Keenan &amp; Argan de Beliard &ndash; A Veteran of the International Arena</h3>
For Lillie Keenan &amp; Argan de Beliard, experience will be key. The 13-year-old gelding will be jumping his 40th five-star 160cm round in this Grand Prix, with 12 of those rounds already taking place in this very arena at WEF.
Most recently, the pair delivered a strong podium finish, taking third place in the WEF 7 CSI5* Grand Prix. With familiarity and form on their side, they will be looking to improve upon that result as they take on another stacked field this weekend.
<h1>The Challengers</h1>
<h3>Darragh Kenny &amp; Zero K &ndash; The Momentum Factor</h3>
Ireland has always had a strong presence in Wellington, and this year is no exception. Leading the charge will be Darragh Kenny &amp; Zero K, who will enter the ring last in the draw after their WEF 9 Challenge Cup victory last Thursday. Kenny has a history of success under the lights, and with momentum on his side, he could be a serious contender for the win.
<blockquote>
&ldquo;These classes are so competitive. There are so many brilliant riders. One day it&rsquo;s me, next day it&rsquo;s Kent [Farrington], next day it&rsquo;s Richard Vogel, Henrik Von Eckermann, Mclain Ward. That&rsquo;s just how competitive this circuit is here.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
<h3>Shane Sweetnam &amp; James Kann Cruz &ndash; Ireland&rsquo;s Top-Rated Horse</h3>
Another top Irish combination to watch will be Shane Sweetnam &amp; James Kann Cruz, currently the highest-rated Irish horse with an Elo of 760. Coming off a runner-up finish in the Ocala World Cup last month, James Kann Cruz is in top form and could be one of the biggest threats to the championship favorites.
<h1>The Stage is Set</h1>
With elite talent from around the world converging on Wellington, this promises to be one of the most thrilling nights of the WEF 2025 season. Can King Edward solidify his reign? Will Checker 47 add another WEF Grand Prix title to his record? Or will a US rider rise to the occasion on home soil? One thing is certain&mdash;Saturday night is set to deliver a world-class showdown.
&nbsp;
<hr>
About the Series Born from a commitment by the US Equestrian Board in July 2023, the US Equestrian Open aims to grow the sport's awareness, exposure, and fan engagement. With $1 million in prize money and extensive media coverage on ESPN and the USEF Network, this series is designed to:
<ul>
<li>Provide a structured, prestigious championship format.</li>
<li>Attract a broader audience.</li>
<li>Enhance competition opportunities for athletes.</li>
</ul>
Stay connected with the US Equestrian Open on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and the USEF Network for live event updates, stories, and results. Use #USEquestrianOpen to share your own experiences and connect with fellow fans.
<img src="https://usef-admin.fly.dev/assets/1ba79d22-0b13-4687-b1e5-5dc0cd708aee?width=1080&amp;height=1080" alt="P. 4 Jumping">
For sponsorship and media inquiries, please contact:
Carly Weilminster: cweilminster@usef.org Layson Griffin: lgriffin@usef.org

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